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Invalid Partition Table error

Started by pammiebot , Aug 15 2012 08:34 PM

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13 replies to this topic

#1 pammiebot

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Posted 15 August 2012 - 08:34 PM

Hi,
My laptop was working fine and when opened it from hibernation mode, it begin to reboot as usual but then suddenly got a blank black screen with the error "Invalid Partition Table". A day before this happened, I did have 2 pop-up advertizing windows appear. When I restart the computer, it doesn't allow me to go into Safe Mode at all. I cannot find my original Windows recovery discs.

It is running Windows XP. I am hoping for a solution that will allow me to keep/save the files on the computer.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Edit: Moved topic from Vista to the more appropriate forum, as suggested. ~ Animal

 

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#2 James Litten

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Posted 15 August 2012 - 10:02 PM

Hi Pammiebot

When this happens shortly after you see some possible malware like in your case, there is a special Recovery Scan tool that you are asked to run that can identify if the problem is being caused by malware (usually it's the antivirus software trying to block it from infecting things deeply that causes this to happen).

We're not supposed to gather that kind of information in this subforum so this post should be in the 'Am I Infected' subforum. There are people watching that subforum that can help you do the scan and evaluate the results. I'll request that it be moved there.

If it turns out not to be a malware issue, let me know and we can continue diagnosing it. I fix a lot of partition problems and recover the data :)

Hang on and I'll try to get this moved.

James

#3 narenxp

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Posted 15 August 2012 - 11:34 PM

This is most likely a malware issue.I have asked a malware response team member to assist you.Until then do not mess up things

good luck

#4 pammiebot

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Posted 16 August 2012 - 01:01 AM

Thanks for the proper move to the correct forum and I'll be looking forward to a solution. Much appreciated!

#5 pammiebot

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Posted 18 August 2012 - 04:39 PM

Hi- still waiting for a response. Not sure if the move to new board disrupted anything? Already posted in the "it's been 3 days w/o response" thread. Thanks in advance.

#6 boopme

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Posted 18 August 2012 - 09:52 PM

EDIT... I see you were already added to the "unbootable" PC list.

Edited by boopme, 18 August 2012 - 10:05 PM.

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#7 Elise

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Posted 19 August 2012 - 02:08 AM

Hello, and sorry for the delay. Lets first have a look at the MBR and partition table here.

Try this please. You will need a USB drive.

Download GETxPUD.exe to the desktop of your clean computer
  • Run GETxPUD.exe
  • A new folder will appear on the desktop.
  • Open the GETxPUD folder and click on the get&burn.bat
  • The program will download xpud_0.9.2.iso, and upon finished will open BurnCDCC ready to burn the image.
  • Click on Start and follow the prompts to burn the image to a CD.
  • Remove the USB & CD and insert it in the sick computer
  • Boot the Sick computer with the CD you just burned
  • The computer must be set to boot from the CD
  • Gently tap F12 and choose to boot from the CD
  • Follow the prompts
  • A Welcome to xPUD screen will appear
  • Press File
  • Expand mnt
  • sda1,2...usually corresponds to your HDD
  • sdb1 is likely your USB
  • Click on the folder that represents your USB drive (sdb1 ?)
  • Press Tool at the top
  • Choose Open Terminal
  • Type the following and press enter:

    dd if=/dev/sda of=mbr.bin bs=512 count=1

  • Press Enter
  • After it has finished a file will be located on your USB drive named mbr.bin
  • Remove the USB drive and insert it back in your working computer and navigate to mbr.bin, zip it up and attach it to your next reply.

This will allow me to have a look at the MasterBootRecord of your drive and see if it is infected.
regards, Elise

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."


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#8 pammiebot

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Posted 20 August 2012 - 11:54 AM

Ok, here is the zip file

Attached Files

  • Attached File  mbr.zip   531bytes   12 downloads

#9 Elise

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Posted 20 August 2012 - 12:03 PM

Please right click the following link and select "save link/target as". Save the file as mbr.bin to your flashdrive (be sure to delete any old copy of mbr.bin first!): http://www.bleepstatic.com/fhost/uploads/1/120-mbr.bin

Now reboot in xPUD and navigate to your USB drive. Click Tool > Open Terminal, type the following and press enter.

dd if=mbr.bin of=/dev/sda bs=512 count=1

After completing this, restart normally and let me know if you can get in windows now.
regards, Elise

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."


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#10 pammiebot

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Posted 20 August 2012 - 03:47 PM

Awesome! That worked! It restarted normally. Will I have to do this every time? (I'm afraid to shut it down again)

Should I run any malware removal tools like Malwarebytes Anti-Malware? Is it safe to this now?

#11 Elise

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Posted 21 August 2012 - 02:04 AM

No, this was a one-time fix, lets just make sure everything is clean. :)

We need to see some information about what is happening in your machine. Please perform the following scan:
  • Download DDS by sUBs from one of the following links. Save it to your desktop.
  • Double click on the DDS icon, allow it to run.
  • A small box will open, with an explaination about the tool. No input is needed, the scan is running.
  • Notepad will open with the results.
  • Follow the instructions that pop up for posting the results.
  • Close the program window, and delete the program from your desktop.
Please note: You may have to disable any script protection running if the scan fails to run. After downloading the tool, disconnect from the internet and disable all antivirus protection. Run the scan, enable your A/V and reconnect to the internet.

Information on A/V control HERE
regards, Elise

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."


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#12 pammiebot

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Posted 23 August 2012 - 10:29 AM

Ok. I'm out of town for a few days do will complete the rest of this once I get back.

#13 Elise

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Posted 23 August 2012 - 10:48 AM

No problem, post back when ready.
regards, Elise

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#14 Elise

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Posted 05 October 2012 - 01:39 PM

Due to the lack of feedback, this topic is now closed.In the event you still have problems, please send me or any Moderator a Private Message and ask them to reopen this topic within the next 5 days. Please include a link to your topic in the Private Message. Thank you.
regards, Elise

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